She
looked at me amazed, and said 'But why would you have a party to discuss
plastic lunchboxes?'

And,
do you know what, I couldn't answer that.Because when you think about it, what on earth was that all about?Why did groups of people gather in each
other's homes to have a demonstration of plastic containers?!

Confession
time here, though - I'm actually quite a fan of Lakeland homeware.I used to get the catalogue, and spend time
browsing through the numerous items on offer, reading the recommendations by
their customer ambassador Wendy Miranda.

So,
amongst other things, I'm now the proud owner of tumble drier balls - plastic
knobbly balls put into the drum of the tumble drier to shorten the drying time
- an egg poacher, used once, not very successfully, and candles in tins to
eliminate all-known cooking odours and repel mosquitoes (but probably not at
the same time).

In
fact, I had to stop getting the catalogue, because every one contained a
cornucopia of culinary-utensil delights that I thought I should have - husband,
however, didn't tend to agree and still comments on the uselessness of the egg
poacher.

Which
then got me thinking, I wonder if Lakeland do parties?Wouldn't that be the ultimate in home
shopping experiences?Endless
demonstrations of useful little household gadgets and products that you never
thought you needed before but now can't live without?

Gravy
separators, piping bags which pipe two different coloured icings
simultaneously, Bar Keeper's Friend, Oven Mate cleaning gel, the Remoska
table-top cooking sensation, poachpods designed to give the best tasting
poached eggs ever.Perhaps they could
show me where I'm going wrong with mine - I imagine it's down to operator
error!